De Minaur Survives Medjedovic Scare on Laver Arena
Alex de Minaur digs deep after dropping the opener to Hamad Medjedovic’s baseline firepower, rallying with endurance to claim a straight-sets win and extend his flawless Australian Open streak against underdogs.
On Rod Laver Arena, under the relentless Australian summer glare, Alex de Minaur stared down an early threat from the baseline. The world No.6, fueling home hopes at the Australian Open, absorbed a first-set tiebreak loss to the big-hitting Serb Hamad Medjedovic, ranked No.90. But de Minaur’s class emerged in the grind, securing a 6-7 (7-5) 6-2 6-2 6-1 victory over three hours and four minutes to reach the third round for the sixth straight year.
Medjedovic, in his main-draw debut at Melbourne Park after beating Mariano Navone in the first round, unleashed deep, powerful groundstrokes that pinned de Minaur back. The 22-year-old’s serve forced errors in tight exchanges, his heavy shots kicking up awkwardly on the Plexicushion. De Minaur scrambled with crosscourt redirects, but the pressure mounted until he found his footing.
“I weathered the storm,” de Minaur said. “He was playing some unbelievable tennis, serving great, hitting the ball from the baseline, really big and deep, and not really allowing me to do much. Ultimately, a five-set match is a long match, so there’s going to be lots of chances. I took them, and I’m super happy to battle my way through.”
First set tests baseline resolve
The opener highlighted the clash of styles: Medjedovic‘s raw power against de Minaur’s speed on hard courts that reward sustained depth. The Serb won 52% of first-serve points with flat forehands penetrating the lines, forcing de Minaur into defensive lobs and hurried returns. Yet the Australian’s footwork covered extra ground, slicing backhands to disrupt the rhythm and setting up inside-out forehands that teased openings.
Crowd tension built as Medjedovic held with down-the-line aces, but de Minaur adjusted by varying his returns, dipping low slices to draw errors. This psychological pushback, born from years of home pressure, preserved his perfect 18-0 record against lower-ranked opponents here. The tiebreak slip stung, echoing past major near-misses, yet it fueled a tactical recalibration.
Rain delay sparks momentum surge
De Minaur broke through in the second set, wrapping it in 42 minutes with a sharp inside-in forehand that wrong-footed Medjedovic. Then heavy rain hit the open court, suspending play for 30 minutes as organizers closed the roof amid steaming puddles. The break didn’t faze him; he returned sharper, stripping serve immediately with a probing 1–2 pattern that exploited the Serb’s fading power.
Post-delay, de Minaur mixed heavy topspin crosscourts with underspin approaches, turning rallies into attrition battles. Medjedovic’s shoulders dropped as unforced errors mounted, his explosive shots losing edge under the covered arena’s quicker bounce. The home crowd’s roar amplified each point, propelling de Minaur’s endurance edge in the final sets.
Draw path blends grit and promise
Advancing to the third round, the 26-year-old eyes the round of 32 against American 29th seed Frances Tiafoe, who outlasted Argentine Francisco Comesana. De Minaur leads their head-to-head 3-1, his quickness often dictating from the baseline in these matchups. A potential fourth-round test with 10th seed Alexander Bublik follows, where return pressure could counter the Kazakh’s flair.
Further ahead looms world No.1 Carlos Alcaraz in the quarterfinals, pitting de Minaur’s tactical variety against all-court explosiveness. Melbourne’s conditions might narrow the gap, favoring the Australian’s home reliability. This win peels back layers of expectation, his steady game a quiet force amid the slam’s demands, hinting at a deeper run fueled by Laver’s electric pulse.